Australia considering US Iran shipping request

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has given Australia a number of options for its potential involvement in helping make the Strait of Hormuz safe for international commercial ships passing Iran.

Canberra is giving the request "very serious" consideration as Washington tries to stitch together a global coalition to hit back after Iran captured foreign oil tankers in the strait.

Mr Pompeo described the action in the Persian Gulf as a comprehensive program to head off a physical military conflict and protect the economies of countries including Australia, Japan and South Korea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Foreign Minister Marise Payne. (AAP)

"What we've asked 60-plus nations to do is provide assistance in securing ... the Strait of Hormuz so that commercial vessels can travel through there," he told Sky News during a trip to Sydney for ministerial meetings.

"Australia could join in a number of ways. It's a highly capable, sophisticated military. There are many assets it could deploy."

Canberra is also mulling Washington's suggestion it be allowed to deploy ground-based missiles in the north of Australia with US Defence Secretary Mark Esper also telling reporters he'd like to see such arms stationed in Asia.

Mr Pompeo stressed the missiles wouldn't be deployed in Darwin or elsewhere without Canberra's support.

British oil tanker Stena Impero is believed to have been captured in Iranian waters whilst en route to Saudi Arabia. (PA)

"When we employ these systems around the world with our friends and allies we do so with their consent," he told reporters after the Australia-US ministerial meetings.

Senator Payne didn't appear to be opposed to the suggestion telling reporters: "The presence of the US and its military forces has been a force for stability for decades and Australia has consistently welcomed that force and presence."

Should the US develop weapons with a range of 5500km, southern China would be comfortably within the range of a missile stationed in Darwin.